Protective covering for electrical plugs



1956 C.N. KELLEY 2,759,160

PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR' EILECTRICAL PLUGS Filed Jan. '7, 1955 [N V EN TOR.

States Pat m a PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR ELECTRICAL PLUGS Carson .N.. Kelley, Kingston, Ohio 2 Application January 7, 1955, Serial No. 480,505

4 Claims. (Cl. 339-75) This invention relates to electrical plugs and more particularly to protective coverings therefor.

At present there is great need in electrical systems for a device which will lessen the possibility of electrical shock when inserting a plug into an outlet. For example, instances exist where children have been electrocuted by electrical plugs that were only halfway in the electrical outlet.

It is accordingly a principal object of the present invention to provide a protective covering for electrical plugs which will eliminate the possibility of electrical shock when inserting the plug.

It is another objects of the present invention to provide a protective covering of the above type which may be manufactured of plastic or hard rubber at a relatively low cost.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a protective covering for electrical plugs which may be made in difiierent sizes to accommodate varying sized male plugs.

It is still another object of the present invention to pro vide a protective covering for male plugs which is press fitted onto the male plug and which includes an end portion which will be retained in close engagement with the outlet cover plate by adhesive means to prevent the male prongs from being exposed and removed from the outlet partially and to eliminate thereby the possibility of children or the like being electrocuted by contact with the same.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a protective cover for electrical plugs bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, is easy to use and eflicient in operation.

For other objects and a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the invention shown illustrated with a conventional male electrical p Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device shown in operative position upon a male plug and shown in phantom with the outlet plate;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but shovw'ng a modified form of the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, represents the main body portion of a conventional male electrical plug having a narrow neck 11 through which extends the usual insulated electrical cord 12 and from the end of which extend the male prongs 13 which are inserted into the outlet 14 in the usual manner.

In the practice of my invention, a protective covering is provided for the plug 10 which will prevent the user from receiving an electrical shock when inserting a plug in the outlet and include a substantially cylindrical hollow body portion 15 of hard rubber, plastic or other suitable material open at both ends and adapted to be press fitted onto 2,759,160 Patented Aug. 14, 1956 2 the body portion. 10-of the plug,.as shown inFigpZ. The body portion. 15 at one end is integrally.- formed with: a peripheral: laterally extending flange 16- adapted. tov abut the outlet plate 14and across the outer faceofwhich is provided any adhesive 17 which will adhere tightly to plastic, metal or other material normally'employed for electrical outlet plates.-

In operation, the protective covering; 151' ispress fitted onto the plug 10 inithe manner shown in. Fig 2-, and.:the prongs 13 of the plug are then inserted into the electrical outlet 14 with the adhesive coated outer face 17 of the protective covering engaging the outer surface of the outlet 14 whereby to retain the plug tightly in position thereagainst and to prevent the prongs 13 from being partially removed and exposed.

It should now be apparent that there has been provided an adhesively retained protective cover which will retain the male plug in tight engagement with the outlet and prevent the prongs thereof from being exposed and eliminating thereby the possibility of electrical shock to children or the like.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 3, there is shown a modified type of plug 10a of substantially cylindrical shape having a convex end wall 11a through which extend the usual insulated electrical cord 12, the usual electrical contact prongs 13 extending outwardly from the other end of the plug for engagement with the outlet 14. In this form of the invention a hollow cylindrical body portion 15a of plastic, hard rubber or other suitable electrically insulated material is adapted to be press fitted onto the body 10a and is integrally formed at one end With the laterally extending flange 16a adapted to abut the outlet plate 14 and provided with a suitable adhesive 17a thereon whereby to retain the plug 10 in firm engagement with the outlet and to avoid exposure of the prongs 13. In this form an end wall 18 is integrally formed at the other end of the body portion 15a and partially embraces the end wall 11a, while permitting the passage of the electrical cord 12 through the central portion thereof to thus prevent the sliding displacement of the plug 10a through the stationary protective covering portion 15a due to the provision of the flange 18.

In other respects the form of the invention shown in Fig. 3 is the same as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and like reference numerals identify like parts throughout the several views.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A protective covering for electrical plugs comprising a hollow, substantially cylindrical body portion adapted to be pressfitted onto the electrical plug and being open at both ends, said body portion being formed of insulated material, and means at one end of said body portion for securing the same to the cover plate of an electrical outlet, whereby to prevent the removal of the plug therefrom accidentally, said securing means comprising said body portion at one end being integrally formed with a laterally extending flange adapted to abut the cover plate of the electrical outlet, and adhesive secured across the outer face of said flange and adapted to adhere to the outlet plate.

2. A protective covering according to claim 1, said body portion at the end thereof remote from said outwardly extending flange being integrally formed with an inwardly extending flange adapted to engage the outer end wall of the plug whereby to prevent sliding displacement of said plug relative to said covering, said inwardly extending flange having a central opening receiving the electrical cord therethrough.

"3. An article of the class described comprising in combination a male-electrical plug, a pair of conductor prongs extending outwardly of said plug, an electrical cord extending outwardlythrough the other end of said plug and in electrical contact with said prongs within said plug, a substantially cylindrical open ended member of non-conduct ve material adapted to be press fitted onto said plug, said protective covering at one end being integrally formed with an outwardly extending flange adapted to abut the cover plate of the electrical outlet when said prongs are inserted therewithin, and adhesive on said flange adapted to'adhere to the cover plate of the electrical outlet.

I 4. A combination according to claim 3, said protective covering at the end thereof remote from said outwardly extending flange being integrally formed with an inwardly extending flange adapted to abut the outer end Wall of the plug and receiving the electrical cord outwardly therethrough, whereby to prevent displacement of said plug relative to said protective covering.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,138,735 Ellis Nov. 29, 1938 2,447,783 Williams Aug. 24, 1948 2,659,060 Cohane Nov. 10, 1953 

1. A PROTECTIVE COVERING FOR ELECTRICAL PLUGS COMPRISING A HOLLOW, SUBSTANTIALLY CYLINDRICAL BODY PORTION ADAPTED TO BE PRESSFITTED ONTO THE ELECTRICAL PLUG AND BEING OPEN AT BOTH ENDS, SAID BODY PORTION BEING FORMED OF INSULATED MATERIAL, AND MEANS AT ONE END OF SAID BODY PORTION FOR SECURING THE SAME THE COVER PLATE OF AN ELECTRICAL OUTLET, WHEREBY TO PREVENT THE REMOVAL OF THE PLUG THEREFROM ACCIDENTALLY, SAID SECURING MEANS COMPRISING SAID BODY PORTION AT ONE END BEING INTEGRALLY FORMED WITH A LATERALLY EXTENDING FLANGE ADAPTED TO ABUT THE COVER PLATE OF THE ELECTRICAL OUTLET, AND ADHESIVE SECURED ACROSS THE OUTER FACE OF SAID FLANGE AND ADAPTED TO ADHERE TO THE OUTLET PLATE. 